Combination closure and valve mechanism for use in conjunction with unloading nozzles for storage hoppers



Nov. 24, 1964 E. R. ALLER 3,158,406

COMBINATION CLOSURE AND VALVE MECHANISMS FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH UNLOADING NOZZLES FOR STORAGE HOPPERS Filed July 19, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l EDMUND R. ALLER A TTYS.

3,158,406 USE Nov. 24, 1964 ALLER COMBINATION CLOSURE AND VALVE MECHANISMS FOR IN CONJUNCTION WITH UNLOADING NOZZLES FOR STORAGE HOPPERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1962 A 'II'I'IIIIIIIIIIII 1N VENTOR.

EDMUND R. ALLER ATTYS.

Nov. 24, 1964 E. R. ALLER 3,158,406

COMBINATION CLOSURE AND VALVE MECHANISMS FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH UNLOADING NOZZLES FOR STORAGE HOPPERS Filed July 19, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 [0/0 W 101 I29 V l 1.13 l/4 1 l 110 1 INVENTOR.

EDMUND R. ALLER ATTYS.

United States Patent INA 3,158,496 (IQMBENATEGN QL-OSURE AND VALVE MECHA- IJISMS F63; USE 1N CDNEUNCTEUN WllTH UN- LOABKNG NQZZLES FER STDRAGE HOPPER?) Edmund Pr. Aiier, Qary, ind, assignor to General American Transportation Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York Filed duty 19, 1962, Ser. No. 211,866 6 Ciairns. (Q5. 302-52) The present invention relates to combination closure and valve mechanisms for use in conjunction with unloading nozzles for storage hoppers, and particularly to such storage hoppers incorporated in railway hopper cars.

In the copending application of Edmund R. Aller, Serial No. 147,577, filed October 25, 1961, now Patent No. 3,088,778, granted May 7, 1963, there is disclosed a railway hopper car for transporting finely divided or granular material, such, for example, as flour, malt, plastic resin beads, or the like, that comprises a body defining three longitudinally spaced-apart pairs of laterally disposed storage hoppers, and six automatic unloading nozzles respectively carried by the bottom outlet structures of the six storage hoppers mentioned. Each pair of the laterally disposed storage hoppers is provided with its own independent unloading system that comprises an elongated laterally extending composite suction tube interconnecting the corresponding pair of automatic unloading nozzles, the opposite ends of the suction tube respectively terminating adjacent to the opposite sides of the railway car body. Also, three pairs of transit caps are normally respectively carried by the opposite ends of the three suction tubes for the purpose of closing the same during transit of the railway hopper car.

When the railway hopper car arrives at its destination, where it is to be unloaded, the six transit caps are removed from the ends of the three suction tubes, and three suction conduits are respectively connected to three given ends of the three suction tubes leaving open the three other ends of the three suction tubes; and the three suction conduits are connected to suction equipment provided at the destination. Thus, each pair of the storage hoppers in the railway hopper car body is independently unloaded.

In the unloading of a given pair of the storage hoppers, conveying air is supplied from the atmosphere into one end of the corresponding suction tube and passes therethrough and from the other end thereof into the connected suction conduit. The granular material in the two corresponding storage hoppers is supplied via the two respectively associated outlet nozzles into the communicating suction tube for the unloading purpose. When one of the two storage hoppers is emptied of the contained granular material, the associated outlet nozzle is automatically closed, whereby the unloading operation continues so as to empty the other of the two storage hoppers of the contained granular material. After both of the two storage hoppers have been emptied, operation of the associated suction equipment is arrested and the associated suction conduit is disconnected from the other end of the suction tube; and then the pair of transit caps are returned upon the opposite ends of the suction tube.

While this unloading arrangement is reasonably satisfactory in service, it is not ideally suited to the unloading of the whole range of granular materials that may be transported in the railway hopper car, since it incorporates no facility for selectively controlling the amount of conveying air that is admitted into one open end of the suction tube during the unloading operation.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the invention to provide a combination closure and valve-mechanism for Patented Nov. 24, 1964 use in conjunction with an unloading system of the type described wherein the combination closure and valve mechanism may be readily secured in place upon the one end of the suction tube mentioned, after the transit cap has been removed therefrom, and then the valve carried by the combination mechanism may be adjusted to supply the desired amount of conveying air into the one end of the suction tube so as to fulfill the exact conveying requirements of the particular granular material that is to be unloaded from the associated pair of storage hoppers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination closure and valve mechanism of the type described that is of improved and simplified construction and arrangement.

Further features of the invention pertaining to the particular arrangement of the elements of the unloading system and of the elements of the combination closure and valve mechanism, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of a railway hopper car provided with an unloading system in which may be incorporated the combination closure and valve mechanism embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the railway hopper car shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged lateral sectional view, partly broken away, of the railway hopper car, this view being taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 3--3 in FIG. 1, and illustrating the two transit caps that are respectively carried by the opposite ends of the suction tube during transit of the car;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary lateral view, similar to FIG. 3 of the lower portion of the railway hopper car, and illustrating the combination closure and valve mecharn'sm and the suction conduit that are respectively connected to the opposite ends of the suction tube during unloading of the corresponding pair of storage hoppers incorporated in the body of the car;

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged lateral sectional view of the combination closure and valve mechanism embodying the present invention, the mechanism being illustrated in its carried position upon the extreme outer end of the suction tube incorporated in the railway hopper car; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the closure and valve mechanism, illustrating the same in its removed position with respect to the extreme outer end of the suction tube.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, the railway hopper car 10 there illustrated is preferably of the construction and arrangement of that disclosed in the above mentioned Aller application; which car 10 i longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart side walls 21 and 22, a pair of laterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart end walls 23, and a roof 24. Arranged within the body 29 are a pair of laterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart dividing walls, one of 3 which is shown at 25, and a pair of laterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart intermediate dividing walls, one of which is shown at 27, three longitudinally spaced-apart dividing bridges, two of which are respectively shown at 31 and 32, and bottom wall structure cooperating to define therein six individual storage hoppers, two of which are respectively shown at 41 and 22 and two more of which are respectively shown at 43 and 44. in the arrangement, the three storage hoppers 41, 43, etc., are disposed in longitudinally spaced-apart relation on the side of the car 14) adjacent to the side wall 21, while the three storage hoppers 42, 44, etc, are disposed in longitudinally space-apart relation on the side of the car 18 adjacent to the side wall 22. The two storage hoppers 4-1 and 42 are commonly efined by the side walls 21 and 22 and by the dividing walls 25 and 27 and are separated laterally from each other at the lower portions thereof by the longitudinally extending dividing bridge 31 disposed substantially centrally therebetween. Accordingly, the two storage hoppers 41 and 42 are defined as a laterally related pair in the right-hand and of the car it), as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In a similar manner, the pair of storage hoppers 43 and 44 are defined as laterally related pair in the central portion of the car 10; and the other pair of storage hoppers, not shown, are defined as a laterally related pair in the lefthand of the car it).

Each of the storage hoppers 41;, 42, etc, is provided with individual bottom wall structure having the general configuration of an inverted frusto pyramid and terminat- 7 ing in a bottom discharge outlet carrying a surrounding substantially rectangular collar. For example, as shown in FIGS Z and 3, the downwardly tapered bottom wall structure of the individual storage hopper d1 terminates in the individual bottom discharge outlet 51 that is provided with the individual surrounding substantially rectangular collar 61, and the downwardly tapered bottom wall structure of the individual storage hopper 42 terminates in the individual bottom discharge outlet 52 that is provided with the individual surrounding substantially rectagular collar 62.

In the arrangement, the bottom discharge outlets 51, ect., of the individual storage hoppers 41, etc., are disposed in a substantially horizontal common plane that is located well below the center sill 11 of the underfrarne of the car 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3; which lower plane is positioned appropriately above the associated railway track 14, as established by the wheels 13 of the trucks 12 for the usual road bed clearance purpose. On the other hand, the dividing bridges 31, etc., positioned at the tops of the bottom structures of the six individual storage hoppers 41, etc., are positioned above the center sill 11, as clearly shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly the three individual storage hoppers 41, 43, etc., disposed on the side of the car 10 adjacent to the side wall 21 are respectively provided with three downwardly tapered bottom wall structures that are arranged between the center sill 11 and the aadjacent side wall 21 of the car 18, while the three individual storage hoppers 42, 44, etc., disposed on the side of the car 18 adjacent to the side wall 22 are respec tively provided with three downwardly tapered bottom well structures that are arranged between the center sill 11 and the adjacent side wall 22 of the car 18.

The roof 24 carries a plurality of longitudinally spacedapart filling hatches 67 disposed on opposite sides thereof that respectively communicate with the individual ones of the storage hopper pairs 41, 42 and 43, Aid; etc, and each of the filling hatches 67 is provided with an individually associated removable hatch cover 68 normally arranged in sealed relation therewith.

Further, the body 24 of the car it is provided with six automatic outlet nozzles 71, 72, 73, etc., respectively carried by the six collars 61, 62, 63, etc, and respectively communicating with the six bottom discharge outlets 51, 52, 53, etc., respectively provided in the six storage hoppers 41, 42, 43, etc.

The six outlet nozzles '71,

72, etc., are of identical construction and arrangement as disclosed in the previously mentioned Aller application, to which reference is made for a complete disclosure of the constructional details involved.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, it is noted that the outlet nozzle 71 comprises a hollow casing 81 terminating in an open top that is surrounded by an outwardly directed substantially rectangular collar 83 that is suitably removably secured in place directly below the substantial rectangular collar 61 carried by the bottom wall structure of the storage hopper 41 and communicating with the associated bottom discharge outlet 51, while the outlet nozzle 72 comprises a hollow casing 82 terminating in an open top that is surrounded by an outwardly directed substantially rectangular collar 84 that is suitably removably' secured in place directly below the substantially rectangular collar 62 carried by the bottom wall structure of the storage hopper 42 and communicating with the associated bottom discharge outlet 52. The casing 81 of the outlet nozzle 71 is provided with a bottom opening that is normally closed by an associated removable bottom cover 85; and likewise, the casing 82 of the outlet nozzle '72 is provided with a bottom opening that is normally closed by an associated removable bottom cover 85. An elongated suction tube 87 extends laterally through the casing 81 and an automatic valve mechanism, not shown, is arranged in the lower portion of the casing 81 in cooperating relation with respect to a valve port, not shown, provided in the bottom of the suction tube 87; whereby the interior of the casing 81 selectively communicates with the interior of the suction tube 87 depending upon the position of the automatic valve mechanism mentioned, the automatic valve mechanism being normally biased into its open position and being automatically operated into its closed position in response to emptying of all of the granular material from the individually associated storage hopper 41 communicating with the casing 81, as explained more fully hereinafter. Similarly, an elongated suction tube 88 extends laterally through the casing 82, and an automatic valve mechanism, not shown, is arranged in the lower portion of the casing 82 in cooperating relation with respect to a valve port, not shown, provided in the bottom of the suction tube 83, whereby the interior of the casing 82 selectively communicates with the interior of the suction tube 88 depending upon the position of the automatic valve mechanism mentioned, the automatic valve mechanism being normally biased into its open position and being automatically operated into its closed position in response to emptying of all of the granular material from the individually associated storage hopper 42 communicating with the casing 82, as explained more fully hereinafter. The two suction tubes 87 and 88 are arranged in lateral alignment with respect to each other and the inner ends thereof are interconnected by a laterally extending bridging conduit 89.

The outer end of the suction tube 87 extends laterally outwardly from the adjacent casing 81 and terminates laterally inwardly with respect to the adjacent side wall 21 of the car body 20v and therebelow so that it is readily accessible from the outside of the car body 20; and likewise, the outer end of the suction tube 38 extends laterally outwardly from the adjacent casing 82 and terminates laterally inwardly with respect to the adjacent side wall 22 of the car body 20 and therebelow so that it is readily accessible from the outside of the car body 20. The extreme outer end of the suction tube 87 is open and has a substantially cylindrical configuration, an annular groove 91 being disposed in the exterior surface thereof and spaced inwardly with respect to the end face thereof to define a ring 93 positioned therebetween; and likewise, the extreme outer end of the suction tube 88 is open and has a substantially cylindrical configuration, an annular groove 92 being disposed on the exterior surface thereof and spaced inwardly with respect to the end face thereof to define a ring 94 positioned therebetween.

When the railway hopper car is in transit, the outer ends of the two suction tubes 87 and 88 are respectively closed by two removable transit caps 95 that are of identical construction and arrangement; and which transit caps 95 are also of conventional construction and arrange! ment. On the other hand, when the railway hopper car 10 arrives at its destination wherein the granular material contained in the storage hoppers 41 and 42 is to be unloaded, the transit caps 95 are removed from the outer ends of the two suction tubes 07 and 88. Upon the outer end of one of the suction tubes, such, for example, as the suction tube 87, there is removably secured the closure and valve mechanism 100 embodying the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4; and upon the outer end of the other of the suction tubes, such, for example, as the suction tube 88, there is removably secured a fixture 96 that is connected to an associated suction conduit 97, the fixture 96 being of conventional construction and arrangement.

Referring noW to FIGS. 5 and 6, the closure and valve mechanism 100 there illustrated and embodying the features of the present invention essentially comprises caplike structure including a substantially cylindrical side wall 101 that is adapted to fit over the outer end of the suction tube 37 in telescopic relation therewith and to enclose the annular groove 91 and the ring 93 carried upon the extreme outer end of the suction tube 87 and an end wall 102 closing the outer end of the side wall 101; which elements 101 and 102 preferably comprise a unitary metal casting formed of aluminum, or the like. A substantially annular groove or recess 1020 is formed in the end wall 102 at the junction thereof with the side wall 101; and in the annular groove 102a, there is arranged an annular sealing gasket 103 formed of rubber, or other resilient material; which sealing gasket 103 is adapted to engage and to seal the end face provided on the extreme outer end of the suction tube 87.

Also, locking mechanism is carried by the side wall 101 of the cap-like structure that consists essentially of a pair of levers 104 that are respectively pivotally mounted upon a pair of pivot pins 105 and arranged in a pair of diametrically opposed openings 101a provided in the side wall 101. Each of the levers 104 comprises a cam element 106 disposed within the opening 101a and adapted to cooperate with the annular groove 91 provided in the adjacent exterior surface of the suction tube 87 and a handle element 107 disposed exteriorly of the opening 101a and selectively manually operable between locking and unlocking positions. More particularly, the upper handle element 107, as shown in FIG. 5, is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction into its locking position illustrated so as to cause the cam element 106 to enter the cooperating annular groove 91 and to engage behind the associated ring 93, thereby to force the cap structure toward the right with respect to the suction tube 87, with the result that the annular gasket 103 is compressed in the groove 102a between the end wall 102 and the end face of the extreme outer end of the suction tube 87. On the other hand, when the upper handle element 107, as shown in FIG, 5, is pivoted in the clockwise direction into its unlocking position, the cam element 106 is rotated out of the cooperating groove 91 provided in the adjacent exterior surface of the suction tube 87. Of course, it will be appreciated that the two handle elements 107 are operated simultaneously into their respective locking and unlocking positions so as selectively to lock and to unlock the cap structure with respect to the extreme outer end of the suction tube 87. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that when the two handle elements 107 occupy their unlocking positions, the two cam elements 106 are removed from the cooperating groove 91 provided in the exterior surface of the suction tube 87 so as to accommodate ready placement and removal of the cap structure with respect to the extreme outer end of the suction tube 87, in an obvious manner.

Further, a number of valve ports 110 are provided in the end wall 102 and disposed in an annular array with respect to the central portion thereof and positioned radially inwardly withrespect to the annular sealing gasket 103; and a substantially disk-like valve element 111 is arranged in cooperating relationship with the valve ports 110 and exteriotrly of the end wall 102. More particularly, the central portion of the end wall 102 is provided with a threaded opening therein that carries an elongated threaded stud 112, the inner end of the threaded stud 112 carrying an enlarged head 113 and the outer end of the threaded stud being rigidly secured to the central portion of the valve element 111. Further, the valve element 111 carries an enlarged centrally disposed knob 114 provided with a knunled outer surface 115 so as to accommodate ready manual grasping thereof for rotation and consequent adjustment of the valve element 111 with respect to the end wall 102 and consequently with respect to the valve ports 110. Specifically, it will be appreciated that the knob 114 may be rotated so as to etfect movement of the valve element 111 into engagement with the exterior surface of the end wall 102; whereby the same completely closes the valve ports 110. On the other hand, opposite rotation of the knob 114 effects movement of the valve element 111 away from the end wall 102 and the consequent adjustment of the crack or opening therebetween so as to adjust the effective opening of the valve ports 110 with respect to the asmosphere.

Considering now the unloading operation of the unloading system incorporated in the railway hopper car 10, when the same arrives at its destination, wherein the granular material is to be unloaded therefrom, the pair of transit caps that are normally carried by the opposite ends of the suction tubes 87 and 08 are removed therefrom, as indicated in FIG. 3. Now assuming that the unloading is to take place from the outer end of the suction tube 08, the fixture 96 carried by the extreme outer end of the suction conduit 97 it suitably secured to the extreme outer end of the suction conduit 88 and the combination closure and valve mechanism 110 is suitably secured to the outer end of the suction tube 87, as indicated in FIG. 4. At this time, operation of the suction equipment associated with the suction conduit 97 is initiated, and normally at least some of the hatch covers 68 are moved into their open positions with respect to the associated hatch openings 67. At this time, the knob 114 carried by the valve element 111 of the closure and valve mechanism is appropriately adjusted so as effectively to adjust the open positions of the valve ports with respect to the atmosphere; whereby conveying air is supplied from the atmosphere through the valve ports 110 into the outer end of the suction conduit 87 and proceeds therethrrough and via the bridge conduit 89 and thence through the suction tube 88 and via the fixture 96 into the suction conduit 97. At this time, the automatic valve mechanisms respectively inoorporated in the outlet nozzles 71 and 72 occupy their open positions, whereby the granular material in the respective storage hoppers 41 and 42 is unloaded therefrom. Specifically, the granular material in the storage hopper 41 proceeds through the associated casing 81 and into the suction tube 87 and the granular material in the storage hopper 42 proceeds through the associated casing 02 and into the suction tube 88; whereby the granular material is unloaded simultaneously from the two stonage hoppers 41 and 42 into the suction conduit 97. During the unloading operation, the knob 114 may be adjusted in order to bring about the selective adjustment of the valve element 111 with respect to the end wall 102 and the consequent adjustment of the exact amount of conveying air that isadmitted into the outer end of the suction tube 37 so as to match the desired conveying requirements of the granular material during the unloading thereof from the storage hoppers 41 and 42.

During the unloading operation, it may be assumed that the granular material is first unloaded from the storage hopper 42 disposed adjacent to the suction conduit 97; whereby the automatic valve mechanism incorporated in the associated outlet nozzle 72 is automatically operated into its closed position so as to prevent the admission of air through the hopper 42 into the associated suction conduit 88. Accordingly, the unloading operation continues only with respect to the hopper 41 and ultimately when all ofthe granular material in the storage hopper 43 has been unloaded therefrom, the automatic valve mechanism incorporated in the associatedoutlet nozzle 71 is automatically operated into its closed position; whereby at this time all of the granular material has been unloaded from the two storage hoppers 41 and 42. After such unloading of the granular material from the two storage hoppers 41 and 42, operation of the suction equipment associated with the suction conduit 97 is arrested; the fixture 96 is removed from the outer end of the suc: tion tube 83; and the closure and valve mechanism 106! is removed from the outer end of the suction tube 87. Then the two transit caps 95 are returned upon the respective outer end of the suction tubes 87 and 83, since the unloading operation has been completed.

In the foregoing description of the unloading of the railway hopper car 1%, only the unloading of the two storage hoppers 41 and 42 has been described; however, it will be understood that the unloading of the other two pairs of storage hoppers incorporated in the body 14) is the same as that described above in conjunction with the unloading of the two storage hoppers 41 and 42; which description is omitted in thednterest of brevity.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided in an outlet nozzle for unloading granular material from an associated storage hopper, and comprising an elongated suction tube, including an intermediate section communicating with the bottom of the storage hopper and provided with outwardly projecting open ends, an improved closure and valve mechanism that is removably carried by one end of the suction tube and that accommodates the selective control of the amount of conveying air that is admitted into the one end of the suction tube, when the other end of the suction tube is connected to an associated suction conduit, thereby selectively to control the unloading of the granular material from the hopper via the associated outlet nozzle. Also, the closure and valve mechanism essentially comprises cap-like structure accommodating ready placement and removal thereof with respect to the one end of the suction tube of the associated outlet nozzle, as well as a valve element that may be readily adjusted when the closure and valve mechanism occupies its carried position upon the suction tube of the associated outlet nozzle, thereby selectively to control the amount of conveying air that is admitted into the adjacent outer end of the suction tube so as substantially to match the conveying requirements of the granular material that is being unloaded by the associated outlet nozzle from the associated storage hopper.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

end of the suction tube is substantially cylindrical and has an annular groove disposed in the exterior surface thereof and spaced inwardly with respect to the adjacent end face thereof to define an adjacent ring therebetween; said cap comprising a substantially cylindrical sidewall adapted to fit over the one end of the suction tube in telescopic relation therewith and to enclose the ring when said cap is in its carried position, an end wall closing the outer end of said side wall, a resilient sealing gasket carried by said end Wall and surrounded by said side wall, locking mechanism carried by said side wall and selectively operable into locking and unlocking positions with respect to the groove when said cap is in its carried position, said locking mechanism in its locking position engaging behind the ring and urging said end wall toward tic end face of the one end of the suction tube in order to compress said sealing gasket therebetween when said cap is in its carried position, said end wall having a valve port formed therethrough, and a valve element carried by said end wall in cooperating relation with said valve port, said valve element being selectively operable between a closed position and a variable open position with respect to said valve port, whereby intake air may be supplied from the exterior through said valve port with said valve element in its open position when said cap is in its carried position and into the one end of the suction tube and may pass therethrough and from the other end thereor" and into the suction conduit when the suction conduit is in its connected position, with the result that the granular material in the storage hopper may be drawn therefrom into the intermediate section of the suction tube and may be conveyed with the air passing therethrough from the other end thereof and into the suction conduit.

2. A removable cap for an outlet nozzle of the type including an elongated suction tube provided with outwardly projecting open ends and an intermediate section communicating with the bottom of an associated hopper, wherein the outlet nozzle is employed for the purpose of unloading granular material from the hopper and each end of the suction tube is adapted removably to carry said cap and each end of the suction tube is connectible to an associated suction conduit, and wherein each end of the suction conduit is substantially cylindrical and has an annular groove disposed in the exterior surface thereof and spaced inwardly with respect to the adjacent end face thereof to define an adjacent ring therebetween; said cap comprising a substantially cylindrical side wall adapted to fit over the adjacent one end of the suction tube in telescopic relation therewith and to enclose the adjacent one ring when said cap is in its carried position upon the one end of the suction tube, an end wall closing the outer end of said side wall, a resilient sealing gasket carried by said end wall and surrounded by said side wall, locking mechanism carried by said side wall and selective- 1y operable into locking and unlocking positions with respect to the adjacent one groove when said cap is in its carried position, said locking mechanism in its locking position engaging behind the adjacent one ring and urging said end wall toward the end face of the one end of the suction tube in order to compress said sealing gasket therebetween when said cap is in its carried position, said end wall having a valve port formed therethrough, and a valve element carried by said end wall in cooperating relation with said valve port, said valve element being selectively operable between a closed position and a variable open position with respect to said valve port, whereby intake air may be supplied from the exterior through said valve port with said valve element in its open position when said cap is in its carried position and into the one end of the suction tube and may pass therethrough and from the other end thereof and into the suction conduit when the suction conduit is in its connected position, with the result that the granular material in the storage hopper may be drawn therefrom into the intermediate section of the suction tube and may be conveyed with the air passing therethrough from the other end thereof and into the suction conduit.

3. The removable cap set forth in claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism essentially comprises a plurality of levers pivotally mounted in a corresponding plurality of openings formed in said side wall, each of said levers including an outer manually operable handle disposed exteriorly of said side wall and an inner cam selectively movable between locking and unlocking positions with respect to the adjacent groove when said cap is in its carried position, said cams being moved into their respective locking and unlocking positions in response to corresponding movements of said handles, said cams in their locking positions being projected from the corresponding one of said openings in said side wall into the adjacent groove and into frictional engagement with the adjacent ring in order firmly to clamp said sealing gasket in place between said end wall and the end face of the one end of the suction tube and to restrain said cap in its carried position, said cams in their unlocking positions being retracted from the adjacent groove into the corresponding ones of said openings in said side wall in order to accommodate ready placement and removal of said cap with respect to its carried position.

4. A removable cap for an outlet nozzle of the type including an elongated suction tube provided with outwardly projecting open ends and an intermediate section communicating with the bottom of an associated hopper, wherein the outlet nozzle is employed for the purpose of unloading granular material from the hopper and one end of the suction tube is adapted removably to carry said cap and the other end of the suction tube is connectible to an associated suction conduit, and wherein the one end of the suction tube is substantially cylindrical and has an annular groove disposed in the exterior surface thereof and spaced inwardly with respect to the adjacent end face thereof to define an adjacent ring therebetween; said cap comprising a substantially cylindrical side wall adapted to fit over the one end of the suction tube in telescopic relation therewith and to enclose the ring when said cap is in its carried position, an end wall closing the outer end of said side wall, a resilient sealing gasket carried by said end wall and surrounded by said side wall, locking mechanism carried by said side wall and selectively operable into locking and unlocking positions with respect to the groove when said cap is in its carried position, said locking mechanism in its locking position engaging behind the ring and urging said end wall toward the end face of the one end of the suction tube in order to compress said sealing gasket therebetween when said cap is in its carried position, said end wall having a valve port formed therethrough, a valve element, and means mounting said valve element upon the exterior of said end wall for selective rotation thereon and corresponding operation thereof between a closed position and a variable open position with respect to said valve port, whereby intake air may be supplied from the exterior through said valve port with said valve element in its open position when said cap is in its carried position and into the one end of the suction tube and may pass therethrough and from the other end thereof and into the suction conduit when the suction conduit is in its connected position, with the result that the granular material in the storage hopper may be drawn therefrom into the intermediate section of the suction tube and may be conveyed with the air passing tberethrough from the other end thereof and into the suction conduit.

5. A removable cap for an outlet nozzle of the type including an elongated suction tube provided with outwardly projecting open ends and an intermediate section communicating with the bottom of an associated hopper, wherein the outlet nozzle is employed for the purpose of unloading granular material from the hopper and one end of the suction tube is adapted removably to carry said cap and the other end of the suction tube is connectible to an associated suction conduit, and wherein the one end of the suction tube is substantially cylindrical and has an annular groove disposed in the exterior surface thereof and spaced inwardly with respect to the adjacent end face thereof to define an adjacent ring therebetween; said cap comprising a substantially cylindrical side wall adapted to fit over the one end of the suction tube in telescopic relation therewith and to enclose the ring when said cap is in its carried position, an end wall closing the outer end of said side wall, a resilient sealing gasket carried by said end wall and surrounded by said side Wall, locking mechanism carried by said side wall and selectively operable into locking and unlocking positions with respect to the groove when said cap is in its carried position, said locking mechanism in its locking position engaging behind the ring and urging said end wall toward the end face of the one end of the suction tube in order to compress said sealing gasket therebetween when said cap is in its carried position, said end wall having a valve port formed thereth-rough, a valve element, and means mounting said valve element upon the exterior of said end wall for selective movements with respect thereto, said valve element being movable into a position of engagement vw'th said end wall in order to close said valve port, said valve element being movable into a variable position of disengagement with said end wall in order variably to open said valve port, whereby intake air may be supplied from the exterior through said valve port with said valve element in its open position when said cap is in its carried position and into the one end of the suction tube and may pass therethrough and from the other end thereof and into the suction conduit when the suction conduit is in its connected position, with the result that the granular material in the storage hopper may be drawn therefrom into the intermediate section of the suction tube and may be conveyed with the air passing therethrough from the other end thereof and into the suction conduit.

6. A removable cap for an outlet nozzle of the type including an elongated suction tube provided with outwardly projecting open ends and an intermediate section communicating with the bottom of an associated hopper, wherein the outlet nozzle is employed for the purpose of unloading granular material from the hopper and one end of the suction tube is adapted removably to carry said cap and the other end of the suction tube is connectible to an associated suction conduit, and wherein the one end of the suction tube is substantially cylindrical andhas an annular groove disposed in the exterior surface thereof and spaced inwardly with respect to the adjacent end face thereof to define an adjacent ring therebetween; said cap comprising a substantially cylindrical side wall adapted to fit over the one end of the suction tube in telescopic relation therewith and to enclose the ring when said cap is in its carried position, an end wall closing the outer end of said side wall, a resilient sealing gasket carried by said end wall and surrounded by said side wall, locking mechanism carried by said side wall and selectively operable into locking and unlocking positions with respect to the groove when said cap is in its carried position, said locking mechanism in its locking position engaging behind the ring and urging said end wall toward the end face of the one end of the suction tube in order to compress said sealing gasket therebetween when said cap is in its carried position, said end wall having a valve port formed therethrough, a member rotatably arranged in threaded engagement with a hole provided in said end Wall and projecting outwardly therefrom, and a valve element carried by the outer end of said member and rotatable therewith and cooperating with said valve port, selective rotation of said member effecting corresponding selective movements of said valve element toward and away from said end wall, said valve element being movable into a position of engagement with said end wall in order to close said valve port, said valve element being movable 1 1 into a variable position of disengagement with said end Wall in order variably to open said valve port, whereby intake air may be supplied from the exterior through said valve port with said valve element in its open position when said cap is in its carried position and into the one end of the suction tube and may pass therethrough and from the other end thereof and into the suction conduit When the suction conduit is in its connected position, with the result that the granular material in the storage hopper may be drawn therefrom into the intermediate section of the suction tube and may be conveyed with the air pass- 1 2 ing therethrongh from the other end thereof and into the suction conduit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,303,810 Anderson Dec. 1, 1942 2,464,183 Norborn Mar. 8, 1949 2,617,446 Williamson Nov. 11, 1952 2,646,076 Bonander July 21, 1953 2,650,726 Aller Sept. 1, 1953 2,919,158 Aller Dec. 29, 1959 3,069,207 Berger Dec. 18, 1962 

1. A REMOVABLE CAP FOR AN OUTLET NOZZLE OF THE TYPE INCLUDING AN ELONGATED SUCTION TUBE PROVIDED WITH OUTWARDLY PROJECTING OPEN ENDS AND AN INTERMEDIATE SECTION COMMUNICATING WITH THE BOTTOM OF AN ASSOCIATED HOPPER, WHEREIN THE OUTLET NOZZLE IS EMPLOYED FOR THE PURPOSE OF UNLOADING GRANULAR MATERIAL FROM THE HOPPER AND ONE END OF THE SUCTION TUBE IS ADAPTED REMOVABLY TO CARRY SAID CAP AND THE OTHER END OF THE SUCTION TUBE IS CONNECTIBLE TO AN ASSOCIATED SUCTION CONDUIT, AND WHEREIN THE ONE END OF THE SUCTION TUBE IS SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL AND HAS AN ANNULAR GROOVE DISPOSED IN THE EXTERIOR SURFACE THEREOF AND SPACED INWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO THE ADJACENT END FACE THEREOF TO DEFINE AN ADJACENT RING THEREBETWEEN; SAID CAP COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL ADAPTED TO FIT OVER THE ONE END OF THE SUCTION TUBE IN TELESCOPIC RELATION THEREWITH AND TO ENCLOSE THE RING WHEN SAID CAP IS IN ITS CARRIED POSITION, AN END WALL CLOSING THE OUTER END OF SAID SIDE WALL, A RESILIENT SEALING GASKET CARRIED BY SAID END WALL AND SURROUNDED BY SAID SIDE WALL, LOCKING MECHANISM CARRIED BY SAID SIDE WALL AND SELECTIVELY OPERABLE INTO LOCKING AND UNLOCKING POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE GROOVE WHEN SAID CAP IS IN ITS CARRIED POSITION, SAID LOCKING MECHANISM IN ITS LOCKING POSITION ENGAGING BEHIND THE RING AND URGING SAID END WALL TOWARD THE END FACE OF THE ONE END OF THE SUCTION TUBE IN ORDER TO COMPRESS SAID SEALING GASKET THEREBETWEEN WHEN SAID CAP IS IN ITS CARRIED POSITION, SAID END WALL HAVING A VALVE PORT FORMED THERETHROUGH, AND A VALVE ELEMENT CARRIED BY SAID END WALL IN COOPERATING RELATION WITH SAID VALVE PORT, SAID VALVE ELEMENT BEING SELECTIVELY OPERABLE BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION AND A VARIABLE OPEN POSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID VALVE PORT, WHEREBY INTAKE AIR MAY BE SUPPLIED FROM THE EXTERIOR THROUGH SAID VALVE PORT WITH SAID VALVE ELEMENT IN ITS OPEN POSITION WHEN SAID CAP IS IN ITS CARRIED POSITION AND INTO THE ONE END OF THE SUCTION TUBE AND MAY PASS THERETHROUGH AND FROM THE OTHER END THEREOF AND INTO THE SUCTION CONDUIT WHEN THE SUCTION CONDUIT IS IN ITS CONNECTED POSITION, WITH THE RESULT THAT THE GRANULAR MATERIAL IN THE STORAGE HOPPER MAY BE DRAWN THEREFROM INTO THE INTERMEDIATE SECTION OF THE SUCTION TUBE AND MAY BE CONVEYED WITH THE AIR PASSING THERETHROUGH FROM THE OTHER END THEREOF AND INTO THE SUCTION CONDUIT. 